An Imperfect Beauty Past Review
By Shinnay Richards (Georgia State University) - abroad from 01/07/2018 to 05/19/2018 with
CEPA Foundation: Strasbourg - EU Studies Semester Abroad Program
This experience was definitely worthwhile, and taught me a lot about myself that I was afraid to admit. I also learned so much about Europe that the history books did not include, and I must say it is intriguing to learn about a countries history while being able to visit the monumental areas.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I had a small amount of work to do for both the courses offered by the program and the university. However, the assignments were heavily graded and made up majority of the course grade. The classes were all in some way more informative and not interactive. The only class I took and felt like I was learning through replication and interaction was French at the business school. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program has an amazing staff and coordinators. I truly felt like I could speak to my coordinators about any issues I was facing, and even ask for tips on how to better assimilate into the new culture. They had answers to almost every question, and when they didn't they made it a duty to find the information. I think they are the best part of the program. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The chateau is a beauty itself and the rooms are very simple and can be adjusted and personalized just like dorm rooms. The only issue would be the shared common area, and that problem only appears when students don't follow the instructions and keep the area untidy. The distance from the city center can be problematic for those who like to explore the city after hours. I love the quiet 15-minute walk to the bus, but it can be very upsetting at times when the weather is bad or running to catch the last bus after 12 to head into town. I would recommend checking the weather and the bus schedule each day to be on the safe side. |
| * Food: |
Breakfast at the chateau is really good but I didn't necessarily eat it every day. The food overall in the city is good like a kebab and other good fast meals, but at times it was hard to cook my own cuisines because I didn't have the right seasoning. I would advise future students to travel with simple food items that they may miss while here. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I don't think I truly assimilated well into the local culture because the program provided a comfort that gave me the choice of either interacting at a small level or not at all. I was surrounded by people who spoke the same language as me and had almost a very similar lifestyle at the chateau so wasn't too much difference in my surrounding. However, I would say it is possible to go out and take the necessary steps to dwell in the culture. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I didn't have any experience with the health system but from the review of friends I can say it is okay. |
| * Safety: |
I never felt unsafe traveling in the city at all but I always tried to travel with groups at night. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
I love the comfort and easy integration the program offered but next time I would prefer to go out and emerge myself within the culture. it is nice to be surrounded by a familiar culture when away from home but in some way, it hindered me from even trying to explore because I felt right at home. I want to be out of my comfort zone and really take charge in terms of teaching myself to swim in the deep end. |
Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
I would say I spend on average 50 a week and when I go out the spending increase and I really didn't budget well but I survived. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 50 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | create a weekly budget and do not overspend, try your hardest to abide by that limit. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | N/A |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 0 |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Get out there and be confident, use the language as often as possible and do not be afraid to mess up. In the chateau you are surrounded by native English speakers and unless you take a language course or go into town and try your hardest to learn you may leave without really learning much. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | The Exhausting registration process |
